28.10.2019 İskenderun
İskenderun Technical University presented the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu with an honorary doctorate. Rector of Iskenderun Technical University Dr. Türkay Dereli stated that the University Senate deemed Hisarcıklıoğlu worthy of a doctorate for establishing TOBB ETU, which pioneered the meeting of technology with the economy, and for its studies in the fields of entrepreneurship, innovation and technology management.
In
his speech at the ceremony, TOBB President Hisarcıklıoğlu called on the
university youth to become entrepreneurs. Hisarcıklıoğlu emphasized that
entrepreneurship is the way to prosper and solve the employment problem. “Looking
at the 20 richest countries, you see the 20 most entrepreneurial countries. Now
countries are importing entrepreneurs. For me, the entrepreneur is the one who
crosses borders.”
Urging
young people to leave their comfort areas, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “Be a citizen
of the world, travel a lot, learn new cultures. Never stop reading,
researching. Question, read, investigate. Be conscientious and just in
everything you do, in every environment you are in. Work for a world where right
makes might, not might makes right. Be the hero of your own story, not anyone
else. I am hopeful of the future of my country. How far we’ve come from in the
last 30 years; but we have a long way to go. There is no room for pessimism.”
Pointing
out that he participated in hundreds of meetings every year, TOBB President
said that the happiest environment is the youth in the university. Stating that
İskenderun Technical University penned a unique success story, Hisarcıklıoğlu
said, “It was founded in 2015. It is a very young university, but you have
become the fastest rising public university compared to last year.
You're
up 19 ranks. You are the first among those established after 2015. The distance
you’ve traveled is very important. This success is the architecture of our
Rector. Dr. I sincerely congratulate Türkay Dereli and his entire team.”
Stating
that it is a great honor to receive an honorary doctorate from such a dynamic
university in the field of innovation, entrepreneurship and technology
management, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “It is a special honor for me to have the
first honorary doctorate of İskenderun Technical University presented to me.”
Stating
that the solution of unemployment is also in entrepreneurship, Hisarcıklıoğlu
said, “Currently, just 1 entrepreneur employs 10 people. So we need to get more
entrepreneurs. With this vision, I traveled throughout our country. I expounded
the merits of entrepreneurship. Turkey's biggest women and young entrepreneurs’
councils have been established. We established TOBB Economy and Technology
University. Well, if you ask me to tell you what an entrepreneur is in one
sentence, for me, the entrepreneur is the one who crosses the borders. Who did
you think of when speaking of space in the past? Russia and USA. For space, the
two countries would wage a power struggle. Now when space is mentioned, Elon
Musk comes to mind, not a country. The Tesla which he launched into space has completed
its first orbit around the sun. Dreaming is very important for
entrepreneurship. I'm a 40-year entrepreneur, I still dream every day.”
Prior
to the honorary doctorate ceremony, Hisarcıklıoğlu, upon the invitation of the
Rector of İskenderun Technical University. Dr. Türkay Dereli, met at the
rector's office.